-Take Kiara up on her offer, go get some new clothes. What sort of style do you end up going for?
--Something similar to Kiara's casual wear (Fairly form hugging clothes, mixed with loose, light shawls and other overlayers.
"... Oh-" Your brain stops for a bit as you properly process the offer. Just what it means. A flush creeps onto your face as you remember that last time you met Kiara outside this church at the cake shop- and just how that went. Your gaze flits downwards, properly seeing the 'one more night from ruin' that is your habit. You really could use something better than this habit to wear. But- can you? No- you can let yourself do something like this? Right?
"Well… I think… it would be… nice..." You're tripping over your words, unsure just what to say. This is different from everything else you've done. You're not the caged you who had never done anything for fun. But this is just something else, something more. But… no, you want to take that offer. Even if- no, especially if you're inexperienced here. After all- you want to get to know Kiara more. Personally, not just as an overseer. For everything else- you have a future now, after all. So surely you can have this? "I don't want to bother-If you wouldn't mind- then I'd… take you up. On that."
You clamp your jaw shut as you try and stop your stumbling words, fidgeting slightly. Business was easier. Things as personal as this… it's a bit harder. You could always go back. Have Scathath put you through your paces again. Get you in top form for dealing with Berserker tonight.
You shiver. No. How could you prepare for that? There's no way you could ever fight that monster. There's only one thing you could do to help there, and it's something that can't be trained. All you need for that is to just… be you. Besides, you want this.
"How wonderful! It'd be a delight to accompany you, in that case." Kiara says, beaming at you as she stands, offering a hand to you and helping you pull yourself upright out of the engulfing comfiness of that chair as you take it. "Just a moment Mimi, while I get into something a little more fitting for our little… excursion."
With that, Kiara vanishes into the small sideroom as you stretch yourself out. A few minutes later, she returns, having changed out of her habit: She's wearing the same white trousers from before, but having traded the jumper for a neat-fitting long sleeved grey t-shirt, a mandala-pattern silk scarf hanging loosely from her neck. Her lips twitch in a sly smile as she pushes a pair of glasses up her nose- you've not seen her wearing anything like those before. They've got to be decorative, right?
"There we go. Much better." Kiara says as the pair of you begin leaving the chapel, Kiara taking the time to snuff out her candles on the way out.
"Really, these habits can get oh so restraining at times. Now, were I a better nun, I'm sure I'd find that sensation quite pleasant, but on a day like today it's just dreadfully smothering." She waves her hand dismissively as she snuffs out the last of the candles and the pair of you approach the door. "So something like this is far better. Although Mimi, is there anything in particular you're thinking of? Any style that catches your fancy?"
"I'm… not sure." You shrug as Kiara pushes open the chapel doors, gesturing towards Kiaras own outfit. "I mean- that looks nice. But- is there anything you'd recommend?"
"Well, if you would accept the guidance of someone like me… I might know a place or two."
Kiara throws the doors open, and you emerge into the sunlight outside. Ruler's there, still tensely guarding the outside of the chapel. You're not sure if she's moved the whole time you've been in there.
"Master. If you are heading out again, I shall keep watch again." That coldness is back in Ruler's voice again, as she keeps her head turned away. Once again, she leaps up to the rooftops before you can say a word in response.
I do not think Ruler has changed how she sees you.
That's what Kiara said. Now you look, you can spot the little things that escaped you. The clutch of a hand to her chest as she leaps into the sky. The tension in her voice. You might be able to speak with her now. Now you know it's not that she's grown to hate you.
But how can you do that if she won't let you get a word in?
"Come now Mimi, don't stand around brooding all day." Kiara's voice drags you out of your thoughts, and you follow her down the path, the chapel doors closing behind you. With that, you set out, following Kiara's lead. It's a new sort of walk. Just the two of you. It's not bad. More than that even. Despite the aching loss of Ruler by your side, no sign of her beyond the occasional bright flash at the rooftops, you enjoy yourself. Even though you're not sure quite how to respond when Kiara leans into you at times, tapping you on the shoulder and pointing your gaze towards something she thinks you'd find interesting. Even if you stumble over your words then… it's still nice. Maybe that's why you stumble. Likeable or not, it's still something new. Especially the contact. Kiara's perfectly happy getting closer to you than Gray prefers to, a teasing air to her actions that leaves you flushed beneath your veil.
After some time walking through the city, you arrive at a nice, large clothing store that Kiara leads you into. There's a confidence to her stride as she leads you through it, walking as if she could own the place. You're a bit hesitant as you follow her, but not uncomfortably so. There's eyes on you, but it's mostly curiosity at your outfit. Nothing more- this isn't a place so upmarket that you'd feel like you didn't belong here, where the staff would get security to ask you questions- the sort of place El-Melloi would shop at. Thankfully. An outfit like that would be a bit much for you.
Though on the other hand, it's still smart enough that Kiara's able to sort things so you end up getting a secluded corner of the shop to yourself on the second floor of the shop: A private room with its own changing booth, secured by Kiara giving a few choice words to an attendant, who you last saw bouncing away with a spring in his step to fetch some things to try on.
"There we go. All by ourselves once more, Mimi~." Kiara smiles, waiting by the door for the attendant to come back. "Now, you'd mentioned that you weren't sure just how you felt like dressing. But I've used this store before, and if someone like me can find something that suits here, I'm sure you can as well. I've sent for a few things to start with at least, so I'm sure something will fit."
"Thank you." You nod in response. "This… it helps."
"Think nothing of it, Mimi." Kiara smiles, before turning to the door of your room. Opening it with a smile and a sweet word to the charmed-looking attendant there, she brings the first load of clothes into the room. "And here we go. Go ahead, just try something on."
With that, Kiara just casually hands you more clothes than you've ever had in your life, giving you a gentle push into the changing room and closing the curtain behind you. "I'll be waiting."
You're left with more choice than you know what to deal with. There's just so much here. But… this doesn't feel like some forbidden indulgence. Like you're transgressing just by having these. They're just clothes. Why shouldn't you have something nice to wear? Now that you're never going to be stuck in whatever worn out cast down scraps your captors allowed you.
You stop, realising that you've tensed up, quite heavily scrunching a pair of thigh highs towards the bottom of the pile. Shaking your head, you drive those bitter thoughts from your mind, focusing on the clothes themselves. A quick riffle through the underwear on offer isn't really anything to talk about. It's there. It's fresh, clean and a quick hold-check looks like it fits. Though… you'll pass on that one, un-nunly piece in red and black that's somewhere in it and you're not sure how kiara found that.
Especially when you've got actual proper clothes to look at. It's the work of moments to strip out of the habit, and you decide that a nice plain sundress might be nice to try on. It's easy to get into at the very least. You're swishing back and forth in it, eyeing up your reflection in the mirror when Kiara pulls back the curtain, leaning into the changing room.
"Ara, so that's your first pick." Kiara smiles as you blush from the sudden close contact, reaching in to hold you by the shoulders and gently guiding you into an upright posture. "Really, you look wonderful like this. You've no need to shrink away like that- just look at yourself."
You blink slightly at Kiara's words, but follow them anyway, letting her guide your posture and focusing on your reflection in the mirror. You… look better than you ever have. You know what you used to look like. You've changed. You're still skinny, but you definitely aren't as skin and bones as you used to be. You've even got a little bit of definition here and there!
"Haven't you grown." Kiara smiles, and you completely forget the embarrassment you'd felt from being so close, how it was making you try to pull away.
A slight gasp slips from your mouth as you feel her hands slide down your arms, her fingers tracing the rough, discoloured handprint that is one of your many burn scars. That's enough to get you to pull away from Kiara, hastily covering that scar with a hand. That's mostly for show though, seeing as now you look, you realise just how many of those scars are visible in this outfit. Especially those ones at your shoulders, by the base of your neck. Handprints seared into your flesh, endlessly reaching for your throat.
A chill runs down your spine as you shiver despite the warmth of the room.
"Maybe something a bit more covering." You say quickly, rushing out an obvious deflection.
"For all that the thoughts of someone like me matter for that… I saw them before, when I gave you the habit. They seem smoother now, if only a little." Kiara's voice is solemn, before she forces some cheer into it. "But in that case, how about this?"
With that, Kiara reaches into the pile once more, bringing out something that is very clearly inspired by El-Melloi: A neat suit, crow-dark and about as cheerful. Closing the curtain on Kiara again, you quickly change into it, before stepping out and giving yourself a look in the big mirror again, looking yourself over from different angles.
Though for all the comments Kiara's making about how sharp you look, you're not feeling this look. It's a bit stiff, a bit too formal for you to be comfortable in. The veil doesn't really help either: It makes it look like you've just been at a funeral. Possibly even yours.
The next outfit you try on is the complete opposite: Nice baggy hoodies and tracksuits. It's comfy. It's that lovely sort of soft coziness… But even so, there's something about it that's not that comfortable. Not physically. You just don't feel right wearing them, and it takes you a little bit to realise why: It's the same style you had in your cell. Your body moves faster than your mind at that realising, rushing back into the changing booth, balling those clothes up and hurling them out the curtain and across the room. You're not wearing that again. Besides, Kiara was right. They were kinda ugly looking.
It's a few more outfits before you finally settle on something that does click with you. A style that's comfortable, looks decent and doesn't have any lingering, uncomfortable associations. Though you must admit, you're not the best judge of what is or isn't 'good looking'. You've mostly been going off Kiara's opinion, really. So it's hardly a surprise when you look at the pair of you in the mirror and realise you're dressed fairly similarly: You're also in a pair of light, form fitting trousers (in a light gray), with a matching loose long sleeved shirt and a shoulder wrapping shawl-ish thing, in a very shiny black and gold pattern. Looks cracked, but a nice way. But it's nice. It's comfortable, fine to move in. It's what you want.
A faint smile curls your lips as you give yourself a look over, Kiara sending back the things that weren't your taste and getting more things in this style. "It wouldn't do to only have one set of clothes." Or things to that effect. Still, there's just one problem with this outfit: Your veil looks really out of place with it. Draws all the wrong sorts of attention. It's a bit worse for wear, now you're really looking at it; it's a bit stained and it's starting to tear.
You take a seat, staring at your reflection in the mirror. Your hands shake as you raise them up to the pins that hold your veil in place. Should you? Forget that, can you? It'd mean- facing everything directly. Without that little bit of anonymity in place.
"Are you afraid?" Kiara's voice whispers into your ears, as you find that she's snuck up on you while you were distracted. She's just behind you, her hands close to yours and inches away from your veil's hairpins.
"I'm- It'd be-" You stutter quietly, nervous despite the comforting warmth of Kiara at your back. You're afraid. It's just. Hard to say.
You shake your head, trying to clear your head. Why can't you open up to Kiara? You've been open about bigger vulnerabilities than this to her. You can't keep shying away from anything so personal.
You won't.
"... I'm afraid." Two words. Some of the hardest ones to ever force out with your leaden tongue. But you feel so much lighter with them said.
A warm weight falls upon your back as Kiara leans on you, pressing herself against you. Her hands brush against your own, soft and comforting as she takes hold of you, guiding your fingers to the hairpins.
"Breathe Mimi. Take a moment, and think." Kiara's voice is a soft whisper in your ear, tingles running down your spine. "Why did you want this veil? What were you hiding from?"
The vaults. Your cell. The Mages. People who would recognise you and drag you back to the place you'd never go.
"So with all that you have now, why are you still hiding from something that cannot hurt you?" Kiara says, her words soothing as a massage, leading your thoughts to a simple conclusion.
"I don't need it anymore"
"You don't need it anymore."
Your voice and Kiara's come as one, and you see her smile in the corner of your eyes.
"A coping measure like this should always be temporary, Mimi."
You nod, but your hands still tremble as you grip the hairpins, refusing to move. It's a silly thing. It's just taking the veil off. No different from when you've taken it off to wash, or sleep.
It just feels like this is something you can't come back from.
"Together then, Mimi." Kiara whispers. "This much, I can safely help you with. Without risking anything coming out…"
"Please…" The word slips from your mouth, your heartbeat loud in your ears.
Then, with warm, gentle touches, Kiara guides your fingers into a firm grip on the hairpins. Her hands intertwined with yours, she- the pair of you pull the hairpins up and out, slowly, gently and finally.
The hairpins come loose, and your veil falls away from your face, fluttering down onto your lap as a flood of relief gushes through you.
Nothing's changed. The world just seems a little bit brighter now.
The tensions are all gone from your system as Kiara helps you stand upright. You blink a little under the slightly-brighter lights, and at the sight of your reflection.
You're smiling, and it feels natural. Not something forced, not something that could get taken away. It feels like it belongs.
"Thank you." A little whisper as Kiara untangles herself from you.
"No." She shakes her head. "Thank you, for letting me help. For giving me this chance."
You just stand there in silence for a moment, before you're interrupted by a knock on the door, the attendant bringing new clothes for you to try on. A few sets of clothes later, and you're done here: Keeping the ones you have on now to wear, with all the other various outfits Kiara buys for you being delivered to Izabetha's house.
As you leave the changing room for good, you don't look back at the thin piece of black gauze that was your veil, lying neatly folded on the changing room bench.
It's not important anymore.
The rest of the afternoon passes in a delightful blur as you and Kiara make your way around the shopping centre. Sampling sweet nectars and delicious treats at some rather nice smoothie bars and patisseries. Seeing Kiara get all excited over a deluxe printing of a collection of fairy tales and blushing when she realises that she'd forgotten you were there. Coughing as you misapply a sample of perfume at her insistence, and just finding your hands brushing against each other as you walk around and admire the artwork on display.
It's lovely. This is what people do, what's been denied you for so long. You can't get enough of it. It's such a shame it has to end, as you spy the sun starting to dip down through the windows.
"I should return to my duties." Kiara says, glancing at the time as well. "I should be there and behaving as would be expected of the Overseer, should anyone respond to your request."
You nod, and say your goodbyes. Well, you'll be seeing each other again soon, at the chapel. Ruler's waiting for you at the exit of the shopping centre, visibly concealing her brilliance. "Are we returning to the others? I shall be watching, as ever."
Once again, Ruler vanishes upwards. She's not letting you speak to her. But not because she hates you. Something else, then.
Even with that casting a cloud over the afternoon, there's a spring in your step as you head back to Izabetha's manor. How could you not be happy, having had a time like that? Knowing that there's nothing stopping you from having a time like that again.
All you need is to make sure you survive this war.
A future's no good if you're too dead to claim it.
You find your pace getting a bit more forceful as that thought crosses your mind, determination creeping into your bones. This is what you want. A life where you can have more times like that. So you're going to do all you damn well can to survive to see it.
"I'm back!" You call out as you arrive back at Izabetha's, having had nothing of note happen on the trip back. Ruler's still avoiding you though. But even so, it's time to think, time to plan.
Everyone's exactly where you expected them to be: Gathered around in the conference room. El-Melloi and Izabetha stand at its head, Gray standing nearby, hooded as ever. Flat's slumped in a chair, chugging from a jug of water as he wipes sweat from his brow. Scathath's next to him, giving Flat a satisfied look. Archer and Ruler are both there as well, standing against opposite walls. Ruler's clearly got ahead of you at some point after you entered the manor.
"Ms Yagami, you're back. Did everything go to plan with the Overseer?" El-Melloi says, the first to speak up as he looks up from his map towards you.
"Yes. I got word out. Don't know if anyone will take the offer, though. But it's done." You say simply.
"That's still good!" Gray says encouragingly, a bit of surprise in her voice as she looks at your new outfit. "You look dif-"
"We've got everything ready on our ends as well! We've got a few things Berserker won't see coming!" Flat chimes in enthusiastically, as Iza gives you a brief nod.
"Are you ready?" She asks. There's not much to say there, and all you give is a wordless nod in response.
For all the fear he fills you with, the ice-blooded terror he pumps into your veins… you're ready to face Berserker. You have friends at your side, and you've done all you can to prepare.
Tonight, Berserker dies.
What news is there from your request and El-Melloi's enquiries? (Votes will not be tallied by individual line)
[] Where is Vortigern?
-[] A place of weakness: Dathmet's base of operations was offshore, a cluster of old sea forts. Somewhere artificial, somewhere to restrict the amount of mana he could draw from his corpse. Berserker will be weaker here, having been unable to reach his full strength. However, solid ground is a rarity here, inhibiting your own servants and their ability to fight, and the boats that you will need to get here make for very vulnerable targets.
-[] A place of strength: Dathmet made his base in some hilly woodland some distance from town, in prime land sitting right atop a leyline. Here, Berserker will have reached his full strength. However, The environment means that your servants will be able to fight unrestricted, with less need to worry over you and your fellow Masters.
[] Who comes to your aid
-[] Saber and his kitsune-masked Master
-[] Rider and his shaggy necromancer of a Master
